FLINT – NBA superstar LeBron James is in the midst of a crazy summer, where the world awaits his much-anticipated free agency decision.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Miles Bridges is back home in Flint honing his skills at the downtown YMCA, trying to reach that same level as basketball’s king someday. Bridges will get a chance to interact with arguably the league’s top player this week at the LeBron James Skills Academy to learn what it takes to reach greatness firsthand.

He was invited, as one of the 80 best high school players in the nation, to participate in the Las Vegas camp, July 9-12. Bridges will leave Tuesday, July 8. Thirty of the best college stars will also be at the camp.

“I want to learn how to handle pressure because LeBron learned how to handle pressure throughout the years better than anybody, so I just want to learn how to do that,” Bridges said.

His AAU teammates Eric Davis, AJ Turner, Cassius Winston and Brian Bowen from the Detroit-based team known as the Family also received invites to the LeBron James Skills Academy. NCAA coaches and NBA scouts will be in attendance for the four-day showcase and players will work out and play games.

Bridges, a native of Flint, spent his freshman year at Flint Southwestern Academy before transferring to Huntington Prep in Huntington, W.Va. for a tougher schedule. He is entering his junior year and is highly regarded as one of top recruits for the Class of 2016.

He holds NCAA Division I college offers from UNLV, Oregon, Marquette, Boston College, West Virginia, Providence, Iowa State, Michigan State, Kansas and Iowa. ESPN has the young Flintstone ranked as the No. 8 player on the top 60 list for the Class of 2016.

He plays power forward, at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds.

All of that attention would be overwhelming for the average teenager but Bridges remains focused solely on basketball. He returned to Flint to work out all summer and is a frequent visitor at the downtown YMCA, Mott Community College and Genesys Athletic Club.

“I’m just staying humble and keeping my circle small by listening to the same people that got me here,” said Bridges, who also attended the Nike Elite 100 camp in St. Louis earlier this summer. “I’m just staying humble.”

Former NBA player Jeff Grayer serves as a mentor to Bridges. He has helped him develop since he first started pursuing hoops for Flint Affiliation as a youngster with his son, Jaire Grayer – an All-Stater at Southwestern.

Jaire Grayer is also headed to an elite Adidas basketball camp in Chicago this week and the two continue to train together under Jeff Grayer’s watchful eye.

“Miles has been doing such an awesome job and we’ve always talked about having an even composure, even when the big things start to come around for you,” Jeff Grayer said. “This is an exciting time for him going into his junior year where he can actually be recruited and there’s so many scouts and colleges coming his way but he’s still just taking it all in stride."

Bridges is excited to be in the presence of basketball royalty this week, as he should be. But for the record, and no disrespect in any way to his talents, King James wouldn’t be his No. 1 choice if he could pick a guy to watch in the NBA today.

“I know LeBron James is the best player in the league, but that’s not my favorite player,” Bridges said with a grin. “Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are my favorite players.